PFTrack 2011 Mac OSX

Already the industry-leading 3D camera tracking and matchmoving application, PFTrack 2011 introduces innovative solutions to the diverse challenges of advanced matchmoving faced by independent artists, and large visual effects teams working within complex creative pipelines. From extensive plate preparation tools and renowned lens distortion management, through single-camera and stereoscopic 3D camera tracking, image-based modelling and scene reconstruction, PFTrack 2011 sets a new benchmark as the most complete toolset available, with unprecedented levels of power, precision, flexibility and control over every aspect of the matchmoving process.

Featuring The Pixel Farm's distinctive node-based flowgraph architecture, PFTrack 2011 introduces revolutionary approaches to camera and object motion calibration, scene preparation, project management and data flow, opening new doors to how the information generated by matchmoving can be utilized and exploited facility-wide. With fully-integrated Python scripting and workflow customization tools, facilities can access the underlying metadata management core of PFTrack 2011 and tightly integrate the software to their own unique workflow.

With advanced features and processing capabilities that stretch far beyond conventional matchmoving PFTrack 2011 is the most comprehensive 3D camera tracking, matchmoving and scene preparation toolset available. From its completely re-engineered 2D tracking engine, to image modelling, z-depth, optical flow and unlimited camera and object motion calibrations per project, artists benefit from the flexibility, functionality and efficiency that only PFTrack 2011 can offer.Node-based Flowgraph Architecture

The Tracking Tree controls the flow of data as nodes are connected to perform all of the various tasks in PFTrack 2011 such as image processing, feature and geometry-based tracking, camera solving, image modelling and file export. Nodes may be infinitely branched allowing multiple techniques to be used to achieve the most accurate result.Geometry Tracking

Geometry Tracking can be used to track either the camera or a moving object, using a triangular mesh instead of tracking points, which avoids many of the typical pitfalls that plague conventional tracking such as glints, highlights and motion blur. In PFTrack 2011, Geometry Tracking has been enhanced so that it may be used to track a deformable object like a talking face. This can be achieved by creating one or more deformable tracking groups, assigning some of the triangles in the mesh to those groups, and specifying how the groups can transform relative to the rest of the mesh.Image Modelling

Image Modelling can be used to construct 3D polygonal models that match elements viewed by a tracked camera. A set of modelling primitives are provided that can be positioned in 3D space and edited to match the image data, or new models can be constructed by connecting 3D vertex positions to form a polygon mesh. Z-Depth can be used to estimate the distance of every pixel in an image from the camera frame, producing a grey-scale depth map image encoding z-depth, and a triangular mesh in 3D space. Texture UV maps can be created and edited for any object, and both static and animated textures can be mapped onto geometry for export.Stereoscopic Tracking

When tracking a stereoscopic camera in PFTrack 2011, auto and user features are tracked simultaneously on both the left and right eye images. When solving the camera, artists have full access to the data defining the rig including interocular distance, convergence, etc.Image Processing

Already benefiting from the Enhance, Shutter Fix and rotoscoping capabilities of PFMatchit, PFTrack 2011 adds a new Optical Flow tools to calculate dense optical flow fields describing the apparent motion of objects relative in the camera plane. It will also retime clip and motion data to increase or decrease the apparent frame-rate of the camera.Mocap Solver

The Mocap Solver node can be used to calibrate the motion of individual tracking points viewed from two or more camera positions. This is often used to track the motion of an actor's body or face, where tracking points have been identified using physical markers. In contrast to standard object tracking, the Mocap Solver node does not assume that the object is moving in a rigid fashion. The motion if each tracking point is completely independent and can therefore represent movement of non-rigid objects.